WOMEN OF THE FUTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 15

WOMEN OF THE FUTURE.

Addressing tlio girls of St. Margaret's College, in Christeliurch, the OovernorGcneral, Lord Bledisloe, said that on them rested a groat responsibility, the future of the nation. Ho appealed to them to keep beauty always before them aiid to rcspect manual toil.

ITis Excellency reminded the '-teachers that they belonged to tho most noblo profession in tho world. < Upon them, more than upon any other profession rested tho responsibility of the future of tho British Empire. The responsibility demanded many sacrifices, but to those with aptitude for it, it was an inspiring work.

Speaking to the girls, Lord Bledisloe said that the sex to which they belonged was with every generation that passed, becoming more important in the world. There was a timo many generations ago when women were regarded as little more than slaves, and were treated on a very different scale of respect from men. They had not the responsibility or tho privileges that women had nowadays. The world had reached a, time when it realised that it might bo necessary for women to take a more prominent place in affairs than men. Forty years ago the public responsibility of women was recognised in New Zealand by giving them the vote. It seemed extraordinary that it took 40 years to elect a woman to Parliament. It seemed to be a reminder that tho responsibility of women was going to bo increased not only in the homo but also in the highest councils of the State.

If the responsibility of women was going to bo greater, the section that would be asked to bear it was tho section that had had the enormous benefits of a good education, both practical and theoretical, who had come from comfortable homes and who had had opportunities for sport that had made them strong in body as well as well equipped in mind.

The girls of St. Margaret's had enormous advantages, and he asked them what they were going to make of their

lives. What influence were they going to bring in their timo to building the character of the country?

"Your responsibility is a great one, and I am going to ask you to recognise that responsibility," said liis Excellency. "I ask you especially because you liave felt no pangs of hunger or want as they have been felt in so many homes in New Zealand."

Lord Bledisloe recalled that the first New Zealand woman he had met was 80 years ago, when as a member of the House of Commons he sat next Mrs. Pember Reeves, wife of the Hon. William Pember Reeves, at a dinner in the House of Parliament. He had been profoundly impressed bv her happiness, and on asking for the secret was told by Mrs. Reeves that her training had been such that she had never had to ask any woman to do a woman's task without being able to do it herself.

His Excellency that an ability to do manual tasks had the enormous advantage that it gave one confidence. Half the women of the world who were not quite honest in their utterance were women who were trying to hide their ignorance. However comfortable their homes, they should never despise manual work. New Zealand women in this respect were the most proficient in the Empire, and were known as women who were pre-eminently able to do their own domestic tasks.

"jTever despise manual labour," said Lord Bledisloe. "It cart be just as noble and inspiring as any work with the mind alone. I have no regard for a woman who despises manual labour."